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The electrical properties of polyaniline nanotubes-aluminum like Schottky diode are described. Polyaniline nanotubes (PANI) were deposited on aluminum thin films using the polarographic technique. The nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis absorption spectra. The electrical properties of the heterojunction PANI-Al were examined. The current density–voltage ( J × V) profile has shown a behavior typical of Schottky diode, with ideality factor (n) of 6.76 and ϕ b of 0.70 eV. Impedance spectroscopy data apparently shows that the resistance dominated the AC behavior of the PANI-Al system. The equivalent circuit is composed from a resistor in series with a parallel resistor–capacitor circuit. The results indicate that polyaniline nanotubes may be interesting to the development of electro-optical devices with 2D structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conditions of convective drying induce a negative effect on the quality of the dried products, and thus, innovative solutions, such as the utilization of ultrasound and dehumidified air are gaining importance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound pretreatment and variable air temperature on the kinetics of convective drying with dehumidified air and the quality of dried apples. Apples were dried with dehumidified and non-dehumidified air at 55, 70 and 85 °C. Preliminary ultrasound treatment was conducted by immersion for 60 min. The effect of both ultrasound and dehumidified air utilization was more prominent in the terms of drying time reduction, when lower drying temperatures were used. Drying of apples with dehumidified air, preceded by ultrasound pretreatment, resulted in a greater rehydration capacity of the products, and limited the browning process. Dehumidified air increased the lightness of the dried products, while sonication darkened them. The use of ultrasound before drying coupled with a drying with dehumidified medium at a temperature of 70 °C reduced the exposure of the product to a high temperature and oxygen. Products treated before dehumidified air drying with ultrasounds were characterized by high total phenolic content and the greatest antioxidant activity. This was because such technological treatment reduced exposure of the product to a high temperature and oxygen.

The aim of this work was to compare selected physicochemical properties of air dried ‘Golden Delicious’ apples, pretreated either by high-pressure processing (HPP), ultrasound (US) or pulsed electric field (PEF). Following parameters of pretreatment were used: HPP–400 MPa for 15 min, US–21 kHz, 180 W for 45 min, PEF–1 kV/cm, 3.5 kJ/kg. The quality of materials was evaluated by their rehydration properties, hygroscopicity, color and total phenolic content. To compare the effectiveness of the utilized methods, determined properties were expressed as relative comparison values against the reference sample obtained without any pretreatment in the same conditions. The performed research demonstrated that properties can be shaped by the application of proper pretreatment methods. For instance, PEF was shown to be the best method for improving water uptake during rehydration, whereas HPP was the most effective in decreasing hygroscopic properties in comparison with untreated dried apples. Among the investigated methods, HPP resulted in the deepest browning and thus total color difference, while the effects of US and PEF were comparable. For all pretreated dried apples, the total phenolic content was lower when compared with reference material, though the smallest drop was found in sonicated samples.

In the light of up-to-date epidemiological data concerning the prevalence of infertility, and also considering the scale of the problem of obesity and proven cause-effect relationship between abnormal body weight and infertility, it is justifiable to undertake the task of systematization of the state of knowledge concerning nutritional correlates of infertility, in order to create a scientific basis for the formulation of the assumptions of a fertility diet. The study is an attempt to systematize the current state of knowledge concerning the importance of energy and structural (qualitative) aspects of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of infertility.

Introduction and the aim of the study Cervical cancer has been a serious epidemiological problem in Poland for many years. The simplest and the most cost-effective way to detect this cancer is to perform a regular cytological examination. The disease is most often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which is due to the low prevalence of women for prophylaxis. The aim of the study was to analyze the level of knowledge of female students about cervical cancer, its treatment and prophylaxis. Material and methodology The study included 250 randomly selected female students from Lublin universities aged 19 to 44 years. The author's questionnaire was used. The obtained results were analyzed statistically. The significance level was assumed as p

Is man capax Dei? Zofia J. Zdybicka answers this question drawing on the entire tradition of classical philosophy which culminates in St. Thomas Aquinas. She considers the problem from the perspective of: (1) man who transcends the precariousness of human nature by his specific capabilities (intellectual knowing, loving, ability to freedom and religion); (2) faculties of the human soul (reason and will) which condition man’s disposition to knowing and loving God; (3) the metaphisical necessity for God to exist as the Supreme Truth and Good. The article concludes with threefold thesis. First, man is capax Dei because—within his capabilities which make him go beyond the entire world of beings (cosmos)—he is open to the Supreme Truth and Supreme Good. Secondly, man is capax Dei because—through his soul’s faculties fittingly developed (recta ratio and recta voluntas)—he can succeed in cognizing and loving God. Thirdly, man is capax Dei because God (the Supreme Truth and Good)—as proven by St. Thomas Aquinas in his Forth Way in particular—really exists.

De demandas de mapeamento cartográfico temático no contexto do projeto de pesquisa "Aplicação de geotecnologias na orientação do uso da Terra com base nos Impactos das mudanças climáticas globais: sub bacias hidrográficas litorâneas do estado de São Paulo e do estado do Rio de Janeiro", liderada pela Faculdade de Engenharia da UERJ e da colaboração eficaz com o Instituto Geológico do Estado de São Paulo, financiado pela FAPESP e FAPERJ, mapas foram produzidos de uso da Terra e cobertura vegetal, tanto com uso da banda pancromática como multiespectrais do sistema THEOS. Trata-se do sensor acoplado ao satélite tailandês THEOS (Thailand Earth Observation Satellite), que é o primeiro equipamento para observação da Terra naquele país, lançado em 1º de Outubro de 2008 por GISTDA - Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency. A fim de realizar experimentos de laboratório com imagens desse sistema, optou-se por usá-lo em mapeamento dos municípios costeiros paulistas Caraguatatuba e Ubatuba, e o mesmo foi feito com os municípios fluminenses de Paraty, Angra dos Reis e Mangaratiba. Os resultados deste mapeamento estão disponíveis em www.georeferencial.com.br e são aqui apresentados. Foram empregadas técnicas de processamento digital de imagens com uso dos sistemas SPRING e ENVI, e as escalas cartográficas finais 1/125.000 e 1/10.000, com bandas multi e pan, respectivamente. Serão destacados métodos de segmentação e de classificação supervisionada, com o objetivo de identificação de padrões de uso da Terra e cobertura vegetal. Resultados posteriores serão apresentados em relação ao mapeamento das planícies costeiras em face da explosão populacional e imobiliária de grande valor patrimonial nas zonas costeiras.

The aim of this article is to determine the financial standing of Polish Ekstraklasa premier-division soccer clubs. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is applied to study technical efficiency ratios based on financial ratios describing the clubs’ financial condition. Statistical and econometric analyses were carried out in order to assess the relationship between performance indicators and the financial situation of the clubs, specifically their liquidity, profitability and debt. This study shows that there is a strong relationship between the condition and efficiency of the clubs. This finding was confirmed by the results of an analysis of the effectiveness of clubs as well as regression analysis. The clubs are classified into two groups: effective and ineffective. Highly effective clubs are in a significantly better financial position than ineffective ones. The current liquidity ratio was the best discriminator separating the clubs into the two groups and having the greatest impact on their growing effectiveness as the three basic financial indicators were analyzed. The impact of the two other indicators, profitability and debt, was much smaller. The discriminant function results were used to determine the financial standing of Ekstraklasa clubs in the 2014/2015 season.

The article raises the issue of risk assessment and its impact on the quality and safety of work. During the assessment of the turning lathe position additional components associated with the jobs personalization were taken into account. Paragraph 2 item 7 of the Regulation of the Minister of Laborr and Social Policy of 26 September 1997 on general safety regulations defines occupational risk as the likelihood of an adverse event. The authors drew attention to the reality of the accident, which sometimes depends on the predisposition of the employee. It turns out that a correct estimation of the probability of occurrence of the accident to be able to react in a timely way seems extremely important.. This parameter will be assessed more accurately if we take into account a number of additional components resulting from the characteristics of the employee. The results of the personalized assessment of risk may allow appropriate planning of corrective and preventive actions.

Introduction. Effective heart rate recovery is associated with higher levels of aerobic performance Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between level of aerobic performance describe of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) value and heart rate recovery (HRR) in road cyclist and footballers. Materials and methods. The study involved of 30 male trainees football in the Polish second leauge (n = 9) and road cyclists, members of the professional clubs (n = 21). Road cyclist were divided into terms of level VO2max into two groups RC1 (higher value) and RC2(lower value), based on the incremental exercise test. The test was performed on cycloergometer, and after the completion of the test for 5 minutes stayed seated for recorded of HRR. Results. The differences were not statistically significant. In the course of fast phase restitution lowest values showed subjects from the group of football players We also used a relative values with respect to the maximum heart rate (HRmax), and no significant differences were found between the groups. In any group there was no statistically significant correlation between the variables related to the HRR and the level of VO2max. Conclusions. Restitution of the fastest heart rate, also in relation to the HRmax was observed in the group of footballers. Road cyclists despite significant differences in the level of aerobic performance do not differ significantly of HRR.

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitting from the natural environment, as well as from the use of industrial and everyday appliances, constantly influence the human body. The effect of this type of energy on living tissues may exert various effects on their functioning, although the mechanisms conditioning this phenomenon have not been fully explained. It may be expected that the interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the living organism would depend on the amount and parameters of the transmitted energy and type of tissue exposed. Electromagnetic waves exert an influence on human reproduction by affecting the male and female reproductive systems, the developing embryo, and subsequently, the foetus. Knowledge concerning this problem is still being expanded; however, all the conditionings of human reproduction still remain unknown. The study presents the current state of knowledge concerning the problem, based on the latest scientific reports.

The detailed architectural examination of the neuronal nuclei in any brain region, using confocal microscopy, requires quantification of fluorescent signals in three-dimensional stacks of confocal images. An essential prerequisite to any quantification is the segmentation of the nuclei which are typically tightly packed in the tissue, the extreme being the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), in which nuclei frequently appear to overlap due to limitations in microscope resolution. Segmentation in DG is a challenging task due to the presence of a significant amount of image artifacts and densely packed nuclei. Accordingly, we established an algorithm based on continuous boundary tracing criterion aiming to reconstruct the nucleus surface and to separate the adjacent nuclei. The presented algorithm neither uses a pre-built nucleus model, nor performs image thresholding, which makes it robust against variations in image intensity and poor contrast. Further, the reconstructed surface is used to study morphology and spatial arrangement of the nuclear interior. The presented method is generally dedicated to segmentation of crowded, overlapping objects in 3D space. In particular, it allows us to study quantitatively the architecture of the neuronal nucleus using confocal-microscopic approach.

Celem pracy jest ocena wypływu wybranych czynników środowiskowo-społecznych na dojrzewanie dziewcząt. Badaniami objęto grupę 3855 dziewcząt z terenów województwa lubuskiego w wieku od 10 do 16 lat. Materiał został zebrany w latach 2015–2016 przez pracowników Uniwersytetu Zielonogórskiego. W pracy zastosowano metodę sondażu diagnostycznego z wykorzystaniem techniki ankiety. Narzędziem badawczym był kwestionariusz ankiety, w którym zawarto pytania retrospektywne Zebrany materiał opracowano statystycznie, wyliczając średnie arytmetyczne badanych cech, odchylenie standardowe, wielkość min-max, współczynnik zmienności oraz poziom istotności różnic. Ze szczegółowej analizy materiału wynika, że przeciętnie najwcześniej dojrzewają:– dziewczęta zamieszkałe w małych i średnich miastach, względem mieszkanek wsi, przy różnicy statystycznie istotnej; – córki ojców z wykształceniem wyższym, przy zróżnicowaniu statystycznie istotnym, w odniesieniu do córek ojców z wykształceniem najniższym; – córki matek z wykształceniem wyższym;– córki ojców i matek będących pracownikami umysłowymi;– pierworodne, przy zróżnicowaniu statystycznie istotnych, względem urodzonych z trzeciej i dalszych ciąż;– jedynaczki (dojrzewały najwcześniej, a różnicę statystycznie istotną odnotowano między nimi a dziewczętami z rodzin wielodzietnych). Czynnikami dużej mocy, w sposób statystycznie istotny decydującymi o wcześniejszym dojrzewaniu dziewcząt, okazały się wyłącznie: środowisko zamieszkania, wykształcenie ojców, kolejność urodzenia i liczba dzieci w rodzinie. Na przestrzeni ostatnich 15 lat obserwujemy zjawisko obniżania się wieku menarche, co świadczy o zdecydowanej poprawie warunków środowiskowych (zwłaszcza żywieniowo-higienicznych) naszego społeczeństwa.

The assessment of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of motor fuels is important due to the legal obligations and corporate social responsibility of the petroleum industry. Combining the Life-Cycle Assessment with optimization methods can provide valuable support in the decision-making process. In this paper, a mathematical model of a refinery was developed to analyze the impact of process optimization on GHG emissions at the fuel production stage. The model included ten major refinery units. Fuel production costs were minimized by taking into account the number of constraints. The analysis was performed in two steps. First, the model was run for the reference case of fuels composition. Then, more than twelve thousand model runs were performed. In each model, the fuel composition was changed. This change represented the exogenous pressures and resulted in different flows of mass, energy and GHG emission at the refinery. The most favorable results in terms of GHG emissions were then identified and analyzed. Additionally, the impact of using low-carbon fuels for process heating was evaluated. The study showed that fuel blending management could lead to the reduction of GHG emissions by 0.4 gCO2-eq/MJ while the use of low-carbon fuel for process heating results in a reduction of GHG emissions by 2 ca. gCO2-eq/MJ.

The economic viability of dairy farms is a measure of their ability to survive and grow. Its measurement is particularly important in periods of changes taking place in the environment of these entities. The last decade of the European dairy market was characterized by significant changes in regulations, which resulted in fluctuations in farm gate milk prices and, consequently, impacts on farm income. The main objective of the research was to assess the economic viability of dairy farms located in the European Union. The research area covered the countries that have the most raw cows’ milk delivered to dairies in the EU, and FADN data from 2009 to 2018. A comparative analysis was carried out on the level of temporal viability and permanent viability of farms classified by economic size. The research results showed that better temporal viability was achieved by farms with a larger production scale. On the other hand, the permanent economic viability was lower on farms belonging to a higher economic size class. Most of the analyzed groups of farms were in the survival phase. This means that dairy farms struggled to meet the costs of unpaid labor. Including direct payments in the calculation resulted in an improvement in temporal viability only in farms with the lowest economic size classes.

Butanol seems to be an eligible fuel for compensating for the increasing fuel consumption. Biobutanol could be produced from local sources in the place of use. Its properties show similar results to gasoline, so biobutanol could be added as a biocomponent into fuels. Important properties, in the case of blending biobutanol into gasoline, are its fluid properties and their dependence on the temperature. Therefore, in this paper, the volumetric mass density and viscosity of the selected ratios between biobutanol and gasoline (0, 5, 10, 85, 100 vol.%) were tested over the temperature range from −10 °C up to 40 °C. Gasolines with a 95 Research Octane Number (RON 95) and with a 98 Research Octane Number (RON 98) were used. It was observed that as the temperature increased, the viscosity and volumetric mass density of the samples decreased nonlinearly. Four mathematical models were used for modelling the viscosity. The accuracy of models was evaluated and compared according to the coefficient of determination R2 and sum of squared estimate of errors (SSE). The results show that blends with 5 vol.% and 10 vol.% of biobutanol promise very similar fluid properties to pure gasoline. In contrast, a blend with 85 vol.% of biobutanol shows different fluid properties from gasoline, especially in negative temperatures, a lot. For practical applications, mathematical polynomial multivariate models were created. Using these models, three-dimensional graphs were constructed.

The aim of this paper is to compare the results of kinematic viscosity of lubricating oils measurements at 40 °C, obtained with three different rapid evaluation devices, and the standardized method using an Ubbelohde Capillary viscometer. The following instruments were selected to measure: a mid-FTIR spectrophotometer, a microchannel viscometer, and a Stabinger viscometer. The study material comprised 42 fresh engine oils, all of which are commercially available. The main data analysis tools used in the study were multiple regression, Mahala Nobis distance, post-hoc analysis, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with the Bonferroni correction. Consistent outcomes were obtained for the Stabinger viscometer only, whereas the microchannel viscometer and the mid-FTIR spectrophotometer were not as precise as the reference method. It was also found that the results obtained with the use of the mid-FTIR spectrophotometer were burdened with a very large measurement error. Therefore, a very careful approach is suggested when choosing these instruments. The study fills an important gap in empirical research in the context of the reliability of measurement results obtained using various research techniques.

It has been demonstrated previously in the literature that utilization of PEF or a combination of a pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasounds (US) can facilitate dehydration processes and improve the quality of dried products even better than the application of thermal methods such as blanching. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of red bell pepper subjected to freeze-drying preceded by blanching or PEF or US treatment applied in a single and combined mode. Furthermore, the freeze-drying was preceded by shock freezing or vacuum freezing performed inside the freeze-dryer as a result of pressure drop during the first stage of freeze-drying. All of the analyzed technological variants enhanced the drying kinetics when compared to the intact material. Freeze-dried bell pepper subjected to non-thermal pretreatment exhibited higher vitamin C, total phenolic and carotenoids content than blanched material despite the fact that blanching reduced drying time the most compared to all other analyzed methods.

Introduction: Laparoscopy is a long-established diagnostic and therapeutic method for treating women suffering from infertility. The application of this method of treatment can help achieve pregnancy only if there is correct classification of patients and evaluation of their partner’s reproductive capacity. The main predictors of achieving pregnancy in a couple treated for infertility are the woman’s age, her ovarian reserve, tubal patency, the presence of endometriosis and quality of sperm parameters. Aim: To evaluate the effect of endometriosis, ovarian reserve and selected parameters of semen on the effect of achieving pregnancy in patients undergoing laparoscopy. Material and methods: The most significant predictor of pregnancy in patients undergoing laparoscopy due to infertility was found to be anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level after laparoscopy, and the main parameters of semen partners were density, motility and morphology. The number of achieved pregnancies after the laparoscopic treatment of infertility was lower in patients diagnosed with endometriosis, and depended on the severity of the condition. Results: As a result of laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, we found a decrease in ovarian reserve measured by means of AMH. Conclusions : The most important predictors of pregnancy in patients who underwent laparoscopy due to infertility are post-laparoscopy AMH levels and the main parameters of the partner’s semen: density, motility and morphology. The number of pregnancies after laparoscopic treatment is lower in patients diagnosed with endometriosis, and depends on the severity of the conditio.

A continuous technological progress forces an improvement of the production process. The article describes the sole beginning of changes in the process of tires retreading on the 5S management method with regard to health and safety standards. The authors point out that the process of the production of retreaded tires is associated with the relationship between a man and a machine. The process improvement can dispense only by improving the machines but it should also pay attention to the man. The improvement of the production process must precede the audit, which can show areas that require intervention. Any such change in the production process cannot be performed without the participation of health and safety inspector, because his knowledge, skills and competence are able to determine whether the proposed changes interfere with the level of safety at the workplace. The authors emphasize that the process of production improvement production should be compatible with the process of improving the health and safety of workers involved in the production process. The combination of 5S audit with health and safety standards results in a holistic approach to the improvement process.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method of treatment for infertility in selected indications. Recent years have brought dynamic development of technologies related to IVF. This article presents problems pertaining to the safety of technology with respect to the patient, as well as the embryo, based on an analysis of scientific reports and our own experience. Invasiveness of the IVF procedure for the woman and the embryo varies on an individual basis. Minimization of the invasiveness of IVF requires experience of the staff performing the procedure, especially with respect to the assessment of risk for an individual patient. Technologies related to IVF are constantly being improved, and the effectiveness of the selected individual treatment methods is not always scientifically confirmed.

The paper aimed to compare the quality of rapeseed and honeydew honey powders, obtained by two methods of spray drying—traditional at a high temperature (inlet air 180 °C) and innovative low-temperature spray drying with the use of dehumidified air as a drying medium (inlet air 75 °C). Total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and the content and types of aromatic compounds were determined. In addition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with chemometrics analyses was done. Powders obtained by the low-temperature spray drying method (with dehumidified air) were characterized by a higher content of polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and aromatic compounds, compared to powders obtained by the traditional method. Honeydew honey compared to rapeseed honey was characterized by a higher content of polyphenols, antioxidant activity, and composition of aromatic compounds. The results proved that the production method had a higher impact on the final properties of powders than the type of honey.

Seismic phenomena threaten land-based buildings, structures, and infrastructure and can transform land topography. There are two basic types of seismic phenomena, namely, tectonic and anthropogenic, which differ mainly in epicenter depth, surface impact range, and magnitude (energy). This article shows how a land surface was changed by a series of seven rock mass tremors of magnitude ML = 2.3–2.6 in March–May 2017. Their immediate cause was the “momentary” acceleration of void clamping, which was activated by local and short-term seismic phenomena caused by human activity. The induced seismic events resulted from the geological structure of the rock mass, which in the specific region of examination was classified as being highly prone to mining tremors. The authors focused on describing vertical surface displacements in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in the south of Poland. The surface deformations were identified using DInSAR technology, which allows quasi-continuous monitoring of large areas of land surface. The present research used freely available data from the Copernicus Program and seismic data from the European Plate Observing System.

Poland faces two great challenges in the field of environment and atmosphere protection: improving air quality, especially by reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions, and reducing relatively high greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this research was to investigate how the fuel and technological transformations in the power, road transport, and household and tertiary sectors aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Poland would affect air quality, human health, and the associated external costs. The study was conducted for 2050 while considering 2015 as the base year. Ambient PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 µm) concentration was used as a proxy air quality indicator. The analysis was based on decarbonization scenarios developed within the REFLEX Project (Analysis of the European energy system under the aspects of flexibility and technological progress). The three scenarios of the REFLEX Project focused on the reduction of CO2 emissions up to 2050 from various sectors, mainly by the means of fuel and technological switches. This also led to the changes in the emission levels of pollutants that directly affect air quality, which were calculated with the use of fuel- and technology-specific emission factors. Next, for each emission scenario, ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and others pollutants were calculated with the use of the Polyphemus—an Eulerian-type air quality modelling system. Subsequently, the health impact of population exposed to air pollution and associated external costs were calculated using the πESA (Platform for Integrated Energy System Analysis) platform. The health impacts considered were the number of years of life lost, restricted activity days, and number of chronic bronchitis cases. The results showed that the largest reductions in both greenhouse gas and PM emissions—and consequently improvements of air quality resulting in a decrease of negative impacts on human health and a decrease of external costs—can be achieved by the transformation of heat production in the household and tertiary sector. The results also showed that the decrease in PM2.5 emissions envisaged in the analyzed scenarios in 2050 will lead to a reduction in the number of lost years of life by about 35 thousand and an avoidance of external costs by EUR 2.4 billion.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of convective and vacuum drying performed at different temperatures on the content of bioactive components of kiwiberry. Dried fruits obtained from Geneva and Weiki cultivars were analyzed for total carotenoid content, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The secondary goal was to establish drying kinetics and to find the best-fitting model for the drying process. The results showed that the highest total carotenoid content was found in Geneva fruits dried by vacuum method and was equal to 39.55–90.27 µg/g dry matter (d.m.). Considering free radical scavenging activity, the best results were also achieved for vacuum dried Geneva cultivar. These samples exhibited EC50 equal to 0.16–0.51 mg d.m./mL and 0.05–0.24 mg d.m./mL as evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. Vacuum drying method usually better preserved the phenolic content of kiwiberry—samples dried at 50 °C did not differ significantly from fresh material. Generally, the shortest drying time was observed for the samples dried at 70 °C regardless of the drying method. Changing the temperature during drying from 80 to 50 and 60 °C did not cause expected benefits regarding chemical property preservation. In most cases, the Midilli et al. model represented the best fit to describe obtained drying kinetics.

Commercially available polymeric membrane materials may also show their potential for CO2 capture by the association of the membrane process with other separation techniques in a hybrid system. In the current study, PRISM PA1020/Air Products and UBE UMS-A5 modules with membrane formed of modified polysulfone and polyimide, respectively, were assessed as a second stage in the hybrid vacuum swing adsorption (VSA)–membrane process developed in our laboratory. For this purpose, the module permeances of CO2, N2, and O2 at different temperatures were determined, and the separation of CO2/N2 and CO2/N2/O2 mixtures was investigated in an experimental setup. An appropriate mathematical model was also developed and validated based on experimental data. It was found that both modules can provide CO2-rich gas of the purity of > 95% with virtually the same recovery (40.7−63.6% for maximum carbon dioxide content in permeate) when fed with pre-enriched effluent from the VSA unit. It was also found that this level of purity and recovery was reached at a low feed to permeate the pressure ratio (2−2.5) in both modules. In addition, both modules reveal stable separation performance, and thus, their applicability in a hybrid system depends on investment outlays and will be the subject of optimization investigations, which will be supported by the model presented and validated in this study.

The paper presents the simulation of a catalyst-paraffin oil slurry hydrodynamics under high pressure and temperature in a convex bottom reactor with a Rushton turbine which was conducted with an application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. An analysis to obtain a uniform distribution of solid catalyst particles suspended in paraffin oil was carried out as a potential for biomass liquefaction. The effects of the particle diameter, bed density, liquid viscosity, and the initial solid loading on slurry hydrodynamics in high pressure and temperature behavior were investigated using the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model and the standard k-ε turbulence model. The main objective was to assess the performance in agitating highly concentrated slurries to obtain slurry velocity, concentration, the degree of homogeneity, and to examine their effect on the mixing quality. The results of the analysis are applied to predicting the impact of the most efficient conditions on slurry suspension qualities as potential for biomass liquefaction.

The aim of the study was an investigation of the effect of traditional and non-thermal treatment on the bioactive compounds of red bell pepper. As a thermal process, blanching in water and in steam was studied, while for non-thermal the sonication, pulsed electric field treatment and their combination were used in this experiment. The red bell peppers were evaluated based on quality attributes such as: total carotenoids content; polyphenols; vitamin C; antioxidant activity and sugars content. Vitamin C and sugar content were analyzed using liquid chromatography and other measurements were determined based on the spectrophotometric method. Results showed that the blanching in water or in steam reduced bioactive compounds concentration; whereas non-thermal treatments as pulsed electric field (PEF) applied separately or in combination with ultrasound (US + PEF) let to obtain similar or slightly lower content of bioactive compounds in comparison to untreated peppers. When sonication (US) and combined treatment as PEF + US were applied; in most cases reduction of bioactive compounds concentration occurred. This effect was probably related to the effect of relatively long (30 min) ultrasound treatment. The application of appropriate parameters of non-thermal processing is crucial for the high quality of processed material.

Current industry needs are related to higher awareness of modern consumers. These consumers are looking for products in which properties such as bioactive compounds are preserved as much as possible. Plasma treatment is one of the most promising nonthermal technologies that can decontaminate food and keep its original properties. Therefore, the aim of this work was to examine the usefulness of atmospheric pressure argon microwave plasma on decontamination of black pepper seeds, allspice berries and juniper berries. The samples were irradiated by plasma for 15–60 s and their physicochemical (dry matter content, water activity, color, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, piperine content in black pepper seeds) and microbial (bacteria and molds count) quality was evaluated afterwards. Results demonstrated that plasma irradiation for 15 s was sufficient for partial inactivation of A. niger but less effective against the Gram-positive bacterium B. subtilis, regardless of the raw material. At the same time, plasma treatment reduced water activity, which can positively affect further storage of spices. Properly selected plasma parameters may also enhance extractability of phenolics or piperine (from black pepper seeds) and improve antioxidant activity with not very great, but visible, color changes.

The primary objective of the research was to compare the viscosity parameters of the same viscosity grade engine oils, as declared by the manufacturers, to the actual laboratory measurements. The secondary objective was to briefly investigate (1) what kind of information oil manufacturers provide in the product data sheets of the studied oils, and (2) the potential savings resulting from the use of the energy efficient oils. The study material consisted of 42 selected synthetic engine oils that belong to the 5W-30 viscosity grade. Stabinger SVM 3001 viscometer was used to determine kinematic viscosity at −20 °C, 40 °C, 100 °C and 130 °C. The HTHS (high temperature high shear), CCS (cold cranking simulator), FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) and GC (Gas Chromatography) measurements were also performed for the samples that had the lowest and the highest kinematic viscosity. Large differences (5–25%) between oil producers’ declarations and the results of laboratory tests were found. Although all of the engine oils tested met the 5W-30 grade standards, the high variability of viscosity measurements needs to be reported. The difference between the oil with the highest and the oil with the lowest kinematic viscosity at −20 °C was 11,804 mm2/s. The outlying temperature-related viscosity profiles were recovered using Mahalanobis distances which identified 16 out of 42 analyzed oil samples as atypical.

Characterizing and optimizing thermodynamic processes far from equilibrium is a challenge. This is especially true for nanoscopic systems made of a few particles. We here theoretically and experimentally investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of a gas of a few noninteracting cesium atoms confined in a nonharmonic optical dipole trap and exposed to degenerate Raman sideband cooling pulses. We determine the axial phase-space distribution of the atoms after each Raman cooling pulse by tracing the evolution of the gas with position-resolved fluorescence imaging. We evaluate from it the entropy production and the statistical length between each cooling step. A single Raman pulse leads to a nonequilibrium state that does not thermalize on its own, due to the absence of interparticle collisions. Thermalization may be achieved by combining free phase-space evolution and trains of cooling pulses. We minimize the entropy production to a target thermal state to specify the optimal spacing between a sequence of equally spaced pulses and achieve in this way optimal thermalization. We finally use the statistical length to verify a refined version of the second law of thermodynamics. Altogether, these findings provide a general theoretical and experimental framework to analyze and optimize far-from-equilibrium processes of few-particle systems.

The need for accurate registration of underground objects in the 3D cadastre is becoming increasingly common throughout the world. Research studies conducted in this area mostly focus on objects related to transportation or other public utilities and services. However, in settlements with a long history, apart from new objects, there are also various historical objects underground. Such places are not fully discovered, and sometimes they are not even fully inventoried with surveying methods. The aim of this work therefore is to try to describe the possibility of introducing historical undergrounds to the real estate cadastre created for three dimensions, in case of its creation, and to check ground laser scanning as a method of measuring such objects in order to introduce them to the 3D cadastre. Considerations on the inclusion of underground historical objects into the three-dimensional cadastre database began with conceptual considerations. Their result is the elaboration of UML schemas describing relationships among 3D cadastre objects including underground objects. According to the authors, such underground objects should constitute a completely new class called ‘EGB_BuildingBlockUnderground3D’ and be part of the legal space of the entire building represented by the class ‘EGB_BuildingLegalSpace3D’ (the prefix EGB is an acronym of Polish cadastre name ‘Ewidencja Gruntów i Budynków’; in English, it stands for ‘Land and Building Cadastre’). In order to verify in practice the possibility of introducing historical underground objects into the 3D cadastre database, the inventory of the Underground Tourist Route in Rzeszów (Poland) was used. This route consists of a network of underground passageways and cellars built between the 14th and 18th centuries. The measurement was carried out with the application of the Faro Focus 3D terrestrial laser scanner. The underground inventory showed that at the time the current cadastre of land and buildings in Rzeszów was being founded, the boundaries of the cadastral parcels were established without knowing the location of the underground passageways under the Main Market Square. This resulted in a situation in which the objects located underground became parts of more than one cadastral parcel. If a 3D cadastre is created, such a situation must of course be recorded accordingly. The article proposes solutions for such situations.

This article presents a case study that demonstrates the applicability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric data to land surface deformation monitoring in areas affected by underground mining. The results presented include data from two objects located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in Poland. The limits of coordinate and displacement accuracy are determined by comparing UAV-derived photogrammetric products to reference data. Vertical displacements are determined based on differences between digital surface models created using UAV imagery from several measurement series. Interpretation problems related to vegetation growth on the terrain surface that significantly affect vertical displacement error are pointed out. Horizontal displacements are determined based on points of observation lines established in the field for monitoring purposes, as well as based on scattered situational details. The use of this type of processing is limited by the need for unambiguous situational details with clear contours. Such details are easy to find in urbanized areas but difficult to find in fields and meadows. In addition, various types of discontinuous deformations are detected and their development over time is presented. The results are compared to forecasted land deformations. As a result of the data processing, it has been estimated that the accuracy of the determination of XY coordinates and the horizontal displacements (RMS) in best case scenario is on the level of 1.5–2 GSD, and about 2–3 GSD for heights and subsidence.

Consumers of the 21st century tend to be more aware and demand safe as well as nutritionally balanced food. Unfortunately, conventional thermal processing makes food safe at the cost of hampering nutritional value. The food industry is trying to develop non-thermal processes for food preservation. Pulsed light (PL) is one such emerging non-thermal food processing method that can decontaminate food products or food contact surfaces using white light. Exposure to intense light pulses (in infrared, visible, and ultraviolet (UV) regions) causes the death of microbial cells, rendering the food safe at room temperature. PL technology is an excellent and rapid method of disinfection of product surfaces and is increasingly being used for food surfaces and packaging decontamination, enabling the minimal processing of food. This paper aims to give an overview of the latest trends in pulsed light research, discuss principles of pulse generation, and review applications of various PL systems for the inactivation of microorganisms in vitro, in various food products, and on food contact surfaces. Effects of PL on food quality, challenges of the process, and its prospects are presented.

Police and various security services use video analysis for securing public space, mass events, and when investigating criminal activity. Due to a huge amount of data supplied to surveillance systems, some automatic data processing is a necessity. In one typical scenario, an operator marks an object in an image frame and searches for all occurrences of the object in other frames or even image sequences. This problem is hard in general. Algorithms supporting this scenario must reconcile several seemingly contradicting factors: training and detection speed, detection reliability, and learning from small data sets. In the system proposed here, we use a two-stage detector. The first region proposal stage is based on a Cascade Classifier while the second classification stage is based either on a Support Vector Machines (SVMs) or Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The proposed configuration ensures both speed and detection reliability. In addition to this, an object tracking and background-foreground separation algorithm is used, supported by the GrabCut algorithm and a sample synthesis procedure, in order to collect rich training data for the detector. Experiments show that the system is effective, useful, and applicable to practical surveillance tasks.

The principle aim of this study is to analyze deformation energy of hyper-elastic particulate composites, which is the basis for their further probabilistic homogenization. These composites have some uncertain interface defects, which are modelled as small semi-spheres with random radius and with bases positioned on the particle-matrix interface. These defects are smeared into thin layer of the interphase surrounding the reinforcing particle introduced as the third component of this composite. Matrix properties are determined from the experimental tests of Laripur LPR 5020 High Density Polyurethane (HDPU). It is strengthened with the Carbon Black particles of spherical shape. The Arruda–Boyce potential has been selected for numerical experiments as fitting the best stress-strain curves for the matrix behavior. A homogenization procedure is numerically implemented using the cubic Representative Volume Element (RVE). Spherical particle is located centrally, and computations of deformation energy probabilistic characteristics are carried out using the Iterative Stochastic Finite Element Method (ISFEM). This ISFEM is implemented in the algebra system MAPLE 2019 as dual approach based upon the stochastic perturbation method and, independently, upon a classical Monte-Carlo simulation, and uniform uniaxial deformations of this RVE are determined in the system ABAQUS and its 20-noded solid hexahedral finite elements. Computational experiments include initial deterministic numerical error analysis and the basic probabilistic characteristics, i.e., expectations, deviations, skewness and kurtosis of the deformation energy. They are performed for various expected values of the defects volume fraction. We analyze numerically (1) if randomness of homogenized deformation energy can correspond to the normal distribution, (2) how variability of the interface defects volume fraction affects the deterministic and stochastic characteristics of composite deformation energy and (3) whether the stochastic perturbation method is efficient in deformation energy computations (and in FEM analysis) of hyper-elastic media.

The achievement of carbon neutrality requires a deep transformation of the Polish power sector. This paper analyses the impact of increased electricity generation from wind and solar technologies envisaged in the newest version of the Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 on the operation of dispatchable generators in 2030. The analysis was carried out using the Model of Economic Dispatch and Unit commitment for System Analysis (MEDUSA) model, which solves a mixed integer problem related to unit commitment and economic dispatch in electrical power production. At first, the model was validated based on the real operation data from 2018. Next, five scenarios were built to analyse the operation of the system in 2030. The overall result of the study is that the safest solution from the point of view of power system stability is to extend the decommissioning of coal units of 200 and 300 MW classes, to invest in renewable energy sources (RES) according to the energy policy, to build new gas power plants with the total capacity of ca. 4 GW, and to enforce Demand Side Management (DSM) programs for shifting the electrical load. The proposed framework for the optimization of power system planning helps to avoid wrong investment decisions that would have a negative impact on energy prices.

There are several reports indicating that the roots of the Carlina acaulis L. used to be commonly applied as a treatment measure in skin diseases and as an antiparasitic agent, starting from antiquity to the 19th century; however, nowadays, it has lost its importance. Currently, numerous studies are being conducted assessing the possibility of reintroducing C. acaulis-derived extracts to phytotherapy. Determining the safety profile of the main constituents of the plant material is crucial for achieving this goal. Here, we aimed to determine the toxicity profile of carlina oxide, one of the most abundant components of the C. acaulis root extract. We obtained the carlina oxide by distillation of C. acaulis roots in the Deryng apparatus. The purity of the standard was evaluated using GC-MS, and the identity was confirmed by IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using a panel of human cell lines of skin origin, including BJ normal fibroblasts and UACC-903, UACC-647, and C32 melanoma cells. This was accompanied by an in vivo zebrafish acute toxicity test (ZFET). In vitro studies showed a toxic effect of carlina oxide, as demonstrated by an induction of apoptosis and necrosis in both normal and melanoma cells. Decreased expression of AKT kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) was noted in the UACC-647 melanoma cell line. It was also observed that carlina oxide modified the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in tested cell lines. Carlina oxide exhibited high in vivo toxicity, with LC50 = 10.13 µg/mL upon the 96 h of exposure in the ZFET test. Here, we demonstrate that carlina oxide displays toxic effects to cells in culture and to living organisms. The data indicate that C. acaulis-based extracts considered for therapeutic use should be completely deprived of carlina oxide.

The aim of the article was to analyze the decision-making process of professional drivers regarding the choice of new engine oil with additional attention to the eco-friendliness aspect of the product. Survey data were collected from Polish consumers, using a self-administered questionnaire. The main data analysis tools used in the study were finite mixture models. It was found that professional drivers do not constitute a single homogenous group. They cluster into two segments with differing importance profiles. The largest consumer segment, over 80% of consumers, consider the quality classification, viscosity classification, and OEM specifications as the most important criteria during the decision-making process. The importance of oil being environmentally friendly is a factor moderately differentiating the subgroups. In the first segment, a strong preference for engine oil with the same technical parameters as the previously purchased one, but additionally marked as environmentally friendly, was indicated by 29% of the respondents, whereas in the second segment by only 15%. The analysis of the consumer decision-making process showed that there is a need to put additional efforts to provide easily accessible and clearly visible technical specifications on the product label. The vast majority of professional drivers surveyed were mainly guided by such specific data in their purchasing process. Engine oils and specially used engine oils belong to a group of products that are considered to have a major negative impact on the environment. As a result, more research is needed into the sustainability of this class of products. The shift into the eco-friendly production, exploitation and subsequent management of engine oils may cause a profound effect on petroleum energy markets.

We report herein the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new antioxidant and neuroprotective multitarget directed ligands (MTDLs) able to block Ca2+ channels. New dialkyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate MTDLs 3a−t, resulting from the juxtaposition of nimodipine, a Ca2+ channel antagonist, and rasagiline, a known MAO inhibitor, have been obtained from appropriate and commercially available precursors using a Hantzsch reaction. Pertinent biological analysis has prompted us to identify the MTDL 3,5-dimethyl-2,6−dimethyl−4-[4-(prop−2−yn−1-yloxy)phenyl]-1,4-dihydro- pyridine- 3,5-dicarboxylate (3a), as an attractive antioxidant (1.75 TE), Ca2+ channel antagonist (46.95% at 10 μM), showing significant neuroprotection (38%) against H2O2 at 10 μM, being considered thus a hit-compound for further investigation in our search for anti-Alzheimer’s disease agents.

The electrochemical galvanostatic pulse method (GPM) is used for the evaluation of the degree of corrosion risk of reinforcement in concrete. This non-destructive method enables determining the corrosion promoting conditions through the measurements of reinforcement stationary potential and concrete cover resistivity, and determining the probability of reinforcement corrosion in the tested areas. This method also allows for the estimation of the reinforcement corrosion activity and the prediction of the development of the corrosion process on the basis of corrosion current density measurements. The ambient temperature (and the temperature of the examined element) can significantly affect the values of the measured parameters due to electrochemical character of the processes as well as specific measurement technique. Differences in the obtained results can lead to a wrong interpretation of reinforcement corrosion risk degree in concrete. The article attempts to assess the effect of temperature on the measured parameters while using the galvanostatic pulse method. The GP-5000 GalvaPulseTM set was used. The results of this study confirmed the impact of temperature changes on the values of three measured parameters (reinforcement stationary potential, concrete cover resistivity, and corrosion current density) and contributed to catching the trend of these changes.

This paper presents a full-featured microfluidic platform ensuring long-term culturing and behavioral analysis of the radically different biological micro-objects. The platform uses all-glass lab-chips and MEMS-based components providing dedicated micro-aquatic habitats for the cells, as well as their intentional disturbances on-chip. Specially developed software was implemented to characterize the micro-objects metrologically in terms of population growth and cells’ size, shape, or migration activity. To date, the platform has been successfully applied for the culturing of freshwater microorganisms, fungi, cancer cells, and animal oocytes, showing their notable population growth, high mobility, and taxis mechanisms. For instance, circa 100% expansion of porcine oocytes cells, as well as nearly five-fold increase in E. gracilis population, has been achieved. These results are a good base to conduct further research on the platform versatile applications.

We investigate, both experimentally and theoretically, the static geometric properties of a harmonically trapped Bose–Einstein condensate of ^6 Li _2 molecules in laser speckle potentials. Experimentally, we measure the in situ column density profiles and the corresponding transverse cloud widths over many laser speckle realizations. We compare the measured widths with a theory that is non-perturbative with respect to the disorder and includes quantum fluctuations. Importantly, for small disorder strengths we find quantitative agreement with the perturbative approach of Huang and Meng, which is based on Bogoliubov theory. For strong disorder our theory perfectly reproduces the geometric mean of the measured transverse widths. However, we also observe a systematic deviation of the individual measured widths from the theoretically predicted ones. In fact, the measured cloud aspect ratio monotonously decreases with increasing disorder strength, while the theory yields a constant ratio. We attribute this discrepancy to the utilized local density approximation, whose possible failure for strong disorder suggests a potential future improvement.

Quantum probes are atomic sized devices mapping information of their environment to quantum-mechanical states. By improving measurements and at the same time minimizing perturbation of the environment, they form a central asset for quantum technologies. We realize spin-based quantum probes by immersing individual Cs atoms into an ultracold Rb bath. Controlling inelastic spin-exchange processes between the probe and bath allows us to map motional and thermal information onto quantum-spin states. We show that the steady-state spin population is well suited for absolute thermometry, reducing temperature measurements to detection of quantum-spin distributions. Moreover, we find that the information gain per inelastic collision can be maximized by accessing the nonequilibrium spin dynamic. Keeping the motional degree of freedom thermalized, individual spin-exchange collisions yield information about the gas quantum by quantum. We find that the sensitivity of this nonequilibrium quantum probing effectively beats the steady-state Cramér-Rao limit by almost an order of magnitude, while reducing the perturbation of the bath to only three quanta of angular momentum. Our work paves the way for local probing of quantum systems at the Heisenberg limit, and moreover, for optimizing measurement strategies via control of nonequilibrium dynamics.

This article assesses the performance and reduction level of five engine oils available from various manufacturers. The trend and intensity of the cranking viscosity changes as measured in the cold cranking simulator were thoroughly analysed. In the presented experiment, alterations in engine oils appearing during actual operation were noted. The tests were conducted under conditions which can be depicted as ‘harsh’, that is, multiplied starting of the engine, extended engine idling and short stretch driving. All of the engine oil samples were collected from passenger cars of a homogeneous fleet of 25 vehicles. The dynamic (cranking) viscosity was determined according to the ASTM D5293-15. In all analysed cases, there was a dangerously rapid increase (36%–69%) in the cranking viscosity, and the limit values (7000 mPa·s) were reached very quickly (for the mileages in the range of 3000–13,000 km). The obtained results have led to the development of a statistical model, allowing vehicle users/drivers to choose a better engine oil in winter, thus improving the engine’s ability to cold start and protecting it from excessive wear or damage. The test results may help to predict the performance of the engine oil during operation, its service life and an oil-change interval.